60 Seconds

Ebola outbreak

Ebola fever has broken out for the first time on record in the West African state of Guinea. People with the deadly, incurable virus have turned up near the border with Liberia, and mining giant Rio Tinto says it has issued protective equipment to workers on a mining project near the affected area.

Gone, fishing

The European Union, the world's biggest seafood importer, has banned fish from countries that don't police fishing. The 28 EU fisheries ministers decreed in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday that EU vessels may no longer fish off Belize, Cambodia or Guinea, nor import those countries' catches.

Obamacrunch

It's crunch time for Obamacare, but are Americans ready? Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act is designed to keep the cost of health insurance low via online exchanges that allow people to shop around for the lowest-cost provider. But in a survey of 6000 eligible citizens, 50 per cent weren't aware of the exchanges (PNAS, doi.org/r3s). The deadline for signing up is 31 March.

Big nuke giveaway

Japan has agreed to give more than 300 kilograms of mostly weapons-grade plutonium to the US for disposal and conversion into less politically sensitive forms. Acquired for research in the 1960s, the material is stored by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, but China has expressed concern over the stockpile.

Meningitis shot

The UK is poised to become the first country in the world to offer children a free vaccine that protects against meningitis B. This rare infection can cause permanent disability or death. The Department of Health says the programme's success depends on getting the vaccine at the right price.

If you would like to reuse any content from New Scientist, either in print or online, please contact the syndication department first for permission. New Scientist does not own rights to photos, but there are a variety of licensing options available for use of articles and graphics we own the copyright to.